In 2009, Ontario Beach was
open for only about 47.5% of
the season.
Reasons for closure:
Rainfall - 20.2%
River Flow - 4.4%
Clarity - 23%
Previous day bacteria - 52.4%
Major problem with current system:
Accuracy of bacteria prediction was 68.75%
7 times the beach was open 
when bacteria levels were 
too high.
18 times the beach was closed
when the bacteria levels were below health standards.
How can we improve the current system?
Algae - 0.0%
Procedure
Results/Analysis
Beach Investigation
Background


Turbidity
Nutrients
Why is the beach always closed?
Bacteria
Increased growth
Drowning
Sunlight
associated with
of
kills
blocks
provides
for
risk
increase
Standard deviations of slope and y-intercept for total bacteria count was very close to other bacteria > fecal & non-fecal bacteria. The correlation for fecal bacteria was stronger than total bacteria, other bacteria & non-fecal bacteria.
Graph 1: Stronger logarithmic correlation than linear correlation  for total bacteria count and water clarity.
Graph 3: Not that much difference between logarithmic and linear relationship for non-fecal bacteria.
Graph 4: Not a statistically significant relationship.
In general, strongest negative correlation between fecal bacteria and water clarity.
Graph 2: Strongest correlation was between water clarity and fecal bacteria. An even stronger logarithmic relationship suggests that there is a sudden explosion of bacteria when turbidity is about 10 inches.
1)  Construct a hypothesis
2)  Three specific spots on the beach which have difering water clarity were located on Ontario Beach shore.
3)  Once the three spots were found, water samples were collected in those same spots.  Water sample collection locations changed daily.
4)  Water samples were placed in petri dish and left for culture.
5)  Steps 2-4 were repeated 3 times over the course of one week.
Part II:  The Lab
1) After the 9 samples were obtained, they were each cultured for 24 hours.
2) After this time period, different bacterial colonies were counted by color. Red, blue, and white.
3)Results were then graphed.

Part I:  The Beach
Bad for Public Health
Implications
General inverse relationship
water clarity
bacteria level
R-squared
So so
Limitations
short timeframe
Further research is warranted
improve data collection

Inconsistent environmental conditions
water too clear - 2 days
big waves - 1 day
high river discharge - 3 days
raw sewage - ewwh!
more water samples
double check bacteria counts
Secchi depth between waves
pilot study
data leaning toward hypothesis
we need more data!
increase capacity of sewage plant?
THE END!
How to look for outliers:
http://science.widener.edu/svb/stats/qtest.html
By Steve, Harvey, Alex & Galina
AKA Team S.H.A.G.